Ask Shahnaz

Beautician Shahnaz Hussain offers tips and answers queries.

September 10, 2009 08:27 pm | Updated 08:27 pm IST

I have oily skin. Suggest a cleanser that I can prepare at home to remove make-up from my face, especially the area around my eyes? — Rima

Mix two drops of olive or sunflower oil with one tablespoon of cold milk. Dip cotton wool in it and wipe the area around your eyes gently. You can use this to remove eye make-up. Mix rose water and lemon juice in equal quantities. Egg white may be added to this mixture. Apply this on your face and then wipe it off with moist cotton wool. Rinse your face with plenty of water. Multani mitti can also be used. Mix it with rose water and lemon juice to make a paste. Apply it on your face and wash it off after it dries. Scrubs help cleanse deep pores on oily skin.

Suggest a remedy for open pores and oily skin. Can I use tomato? — Ibrahim

Tomato helps reduce oiliness. Apply tomato pulp or juice on your face. Wash it off after 20 minutes. Use a facial scrub once or twice a week. Rub it gently on your face with small circular movements, especially on the oily areas and open pores. Wash it off with water. Mix oats with egg white and apply it only on the open pores twice a week. Wash it off after it dries. Or, mix multani mitti with rose water into a paste and apply it three times a week on your face. Wash it off after it dries. If your skin is very oily, this pack can be applied daily.

I have normal skin. But, it has become dark. If I use creams, I get pimples. What should I do to have fair and glowing skin? — Rathika

You may have combination skin. The oily areas may be pimple-prone. When you apply cream, the pores get clogged, causing pimples to erupt. Mix one teaspoon each of honey and lemon juice and apply it daily on your face at any time. Wash it off after 20 minutes. Or, add a pinch of turmeric to two teaspoons of curd and apply it daily on your face in the same way as advised above. Twice a week, mix together one teaspoon of curd, one teaspoon of honey, 4 teaspoons of oatmeal and egg white. Apply this on your face, avoiding the lips and the area around your eyes. Wash it off after 20 to 30 minutes. The liquid ingredients should be mixed into a thick paste that does not drip.

I am tall and thin. I have shoulder-length hair. What kind of clothes and hairstyle will suit me? — Manaswi

Avoid dark colours. Light colours, especially white, will add width to your figure. Horizontal lines or stripes will tend to make you look fatter. Wear contrasts, since you are tall — skirt or jeans and top, or salwar and kurta in contrasting colours. Single colour outfits will make you look taller and thinner. Avoid tight clothes and clinging fabrics such as chiffon, as it tends to accentuate the flaws in your figure. Thin people look good in crisp cottons, high necklines, collars and even frills. Avoid clothes that hang on you. Wear clothes with detail such as a touch of lace, gathers and pleats. The texture of your hair and the shape of your face are important, while deciding on an appropriate hair style. You can sport a layered hair cut, with the layers, waves and curls in the lower half of the hair.

Suggest a natural treatment for dandruff. — Rashmi

Wash your hair with a mild herbal shampoo three or four times a week, using less shampoo and rinsing it off well with water. Half an hour before shampooing your hair, massage your scalp lightly with two tablespoons of vinegar. Once a week, heat olive oil or sesame seed (til) oil and apply it on your scalp at night, leaving it on overnight. The next morning, apply the juice of a lemon on your scalp half an hour before a shampoo wash. Weekly henna treatments will also help. Add 4 teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, 2 raw eggs and enough tea water to the henna powder, mixing it into a thick paste. Make tea water by boiling used tea leaves again in enough water, and cooling and straining the liquid. Apply the henna on your hair and wash it off after an hour. If you do not wish to use egg, add more tea water. Include fresh fruits, raw salads, sprouts and yoghurt in your daily diet. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily. Add the juice of a lemon to a glass of water and drink it first thing in the morning.

You can send your queries to askshahnaz@gmail.com

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